Railroad rail grinding machine

ABSTRACT

A railroad rail grinding machine comprising- in compact, relatively lightweight vehicle form- a wheel-supported frame adapted to rest on and be manually advanced along the transversely spaced rails of a railroad, and an engine-driven grinding wheel associated with the frame and disposed for working engagement with one of such rails; the grinding wheel being mounted for adjustment vertically and laterally- selectively and independently- whereby such grinding wheel can be positioned to grind the crown, or either side of said one rail, as working conditions may require.

United States Patent Duecker May 13, 1975 RAILROAD RAIL GRINDING MACHINE Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly 75 Inventor: Willard J. Duecker, Stockton, Calif. 'F Webster [73] Assignee: Colberg, Inc., Stockton, Calif. 22 Filed: June 10, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] APPL No: 478,074 A railroad rail grinding machine comprisingin compact, relatively lightweight vehicle forma wheelsupported frame adapted to rest on and be manually [52] U.S. Cl. 51/178 advanced along the transversely spaced rails f a rail [51] Ilit. Cl B24b 23/02 road, and an engine driven grinding wheel associated [58] Field of Search 51/ 178, 170 R with the frame and disposed f working engagement with one of such rails; the grinding wheel being References Clted mounted for adjustment vertically and laterallyse- UNITED STATES PATENTS lectively and independently-whereby such grinding 1,906,872 5/1933 Perazzoli 51/178 Wheel can be Positioned to grind the Crown, or either 2,047,591 7/1936 Mall 51 178 ide of said one rail, as Working conditions may re- 3,205,623 9/1965 Claybome 51/178 quire. 3,254,455 6/1966 Hensley 51/178 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FATENTEU MY 1 3 SHEET 18E 4 PATENTEU KAY 1 3i975 PATENTEU HAY 3 3% SHEET 3 0F 3 RAILROAD RAIL GRINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Railroad rail grinding machines are known in sundry embodiments, but in many instances the machines have been bulky and cumbersome, difficult and expensive to manufacture, and not wholly convenient to useespecially with respect to adjustment of the grinding wheel for grinding the crown as well as the sides of a rail.

With these considerations, the present railroad rail grinding machine was conceived in a successful effort to provide substantial improvements, both in structure and function, in such a machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, as a major object, a railroad rail grinding machine comprisingin vehicle forma wheel-supported frame adapted to rest on and be manually advanced along the transversely spaced rails of a railroad, and an engine-driven grinding wheel associated with the frame and disposed for working engagement with one of such rails; the machine being compact and simplified in structure, easy and convenient to use, and relatively lightweight which permits ready two-man placement of the machine on or removal from the railroad rails.

The present invention provides, as another important object, a railroad rail grinding machine, as above, wherein the engine-driven grinding wheel is mounted in a manner which permits of ready and quick manual adjustment of its position relative to said one rail; i.e., for grinding the crown or either side of said rail.

The present invention provides, as a further object, a railroad rail grinding machine which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

The present invention provides, as a still further object, a practical, reliable, and durable railroad rail grinding machine, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the working side of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; the view showing essentially the side of the machine opposite that illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the'machine, with the engine-driven rail grinding mechanism omitted; the view showing essentially the wheel-supported frame of the machine and certain associated parts of the mount for said rail grinding mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the railroad rail grinding machine, in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a main frame indicated generally at 1; such framewhich is generally rectangular in plan-comprising a full-width, transverse axle 2 at each end of the frame. At its outer end, each axle 2 is fitted with a railroad rail-engaging wheel 3. One side of the frame 1 includes a longitudinal bar 4 rigidly connected to and extending between the axles 2, while the other side of the frame embodies an arch 5, of skeleton construction, rigidly connected to and extending between said axles. The working side of the machine is that which corresponds to the arch 5; i.e., it is the rail 6engaged by the wheels 3 adjacent the arch 5- which is worked upon by the engine-driven grinding mechanism (hereinafter described). The opposite rail is indicated at 7.

The frame 1 is fitted on each end with transversely spaced handle bars 8 which project outwardly for manual engagement, whereby two workmen (one at each end of the machine) can grasp such handle bars for the purpose of placing the machine on, or lifting it off, the rails 6 and 7.

The above-described frame 1 is provided with a mount-for the hereinafter described engine-driven rail grinding mechanism-constructed as follows:

Adjacent but laterally inwardly of the longitudinal frame bar 4, there is-in parallel relation-a turnable rock-shaft 9; such rock-shaft being journaled at its ends on trunnions 10 which project from the axles 2. Intermediate its ends, the rock-shaft includes an integral, laterally opening ring 11 whose purpose will later appear.

Spaced but parallel mounting rods 12 are fixed at one end to the rock-shaft 9 in the central area thereof, and thence such rods 12 project laterally beneath the arch 5 to an outer end termination beyond the longitudinal vertical plane occupied by the corresponding wheels 3. The laterally projecting rods 12 are each provided with a slidably disposed tube 13 connected at their inner ends and in unitary relation by a base plate 14.

Each of the mounting rods 12 is fitted in the longitudinal vertical plane of the arch 5 with an outwardly projecting ear 15; the tubes 13 being longitudinally slotted-as at 16--from end to end thereof, with the cars 15 projecting through such slots. With this arrangement, the tubes 13 can slide back and forth on the mounting rods 12 without interference by the cars 15.

An A-shaped suspension yoke 17 is disposed below and in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the arch 5; the lower ends of the legs of said yoke being connected to the ears 15. Such suspension yoke 17 is vertically adjustably suspended from the arch as follows:

A vertical screw 18-having a hand wheel 19 on its upper end-extends downwardly in threaded relation through a nut 20 rockably carried on the arch 5 at its apex by a gimbal-like unit 21. At its lower end, and below said gimbal-like unit 21, the screw is rotatably attached to the yoke 17, at its apex, by means of a rockablc connector 22.

By adjusting the screw 18 upwardly or downwardly, it will be recognized that the mounting rods 12 are correspondingly moved upwardly or downwardly about the rock-shaft 9 as an axis.

An engine-driven rail grinding mechanism is carried by the above-described vertically adjustable mount, and comprises the following:

The base plate 14 is provided atop thereof with a hinged platform 23 vertically adjustable by means of stand-up bolts 24; the hinge, which extends longitudinally, being indicated at 25. A relatively small internal combustion engine 26 (which includes a unitary fuel tank 27) is mounted on the platform 23 with the engine drive shaft 28 extending transversely of the machine. The projecting portion of such drive shaft 28 which corresponds to the working side of the machine is fitted with a multiple groove drive pulley unit 29 having a centrifugal clutch 30 associated therewith. The opposite projecting portion of the drive shaft 28 is fitted with a conventional pulley 31 for reception of a starter rope.

A transversely extending shaft 32 is disposed in a plane below but centrally of the mounting rods 12; the inner end portion of the shaft 32 being carried in a bearing 33 on a bracket 34 depending from base plate 14. Adjacent but short of the outer end thereof, the shaft 33 is carried in another bearing 35 on a cross flange 36 which spans in connected relation between the tubes 13. Such cross flange is included, in unitary relation, with a part-circle guard 37 which encompasses, from above, all but the lower portion of a grinding wheel 38 secured to said shaft 32; the guard 37 including a faceplate or shield 39.

The guard 37 also includes-in integral relation an i upstanding bracket plate 40 through the top portion of which a horizontal, transverse screw 41 extends in rotatable but axially non-movable relation; the major portion of the screw 41 projecting inwardly from the bracket plate 40. A short portion of the screw 41- which projects outwardly from said bracket plate 40is fitted with a hand crank 42. intermediate its ends, the screw 41 extends in threaded relation through a self-alining bearing 43 fixed in the suspension yoke 17 in a central position. Upon manual rotation of the hand crank 42, the screw 41 will thrust in a manner to cause the tubes 13 to slide in one direction or the other (depending on crank rotation) on the mounting rods 12 withcorresponding motion-transversely of the machineof the engine 26, shaft 32, and grinding wheel 38.

The shaft 32 is driven from the pulley unit 29-in any adjusted position of said shaft 32by endless belts 44 trained about a corresponding pulley unit 45lon said shaft. The belts 44 are tightened by adjusting the standup bolts 24.

At its inner end, the shaft 32 is formed as a power take-off 46 and which is normally enclosed in a removable cap 47.

OPERATION For use, the above-described railroad rail grinding machine is first placed on the rails 6 and 7 by workmen who grasp the handle bars 8. This disposes the grinding wheel 38 above rail 6, and such grinding wheel is then placed in rotative operation with the shaft 32 driven from the engine 26 by means of the pulley units 29 and 45 interconnected by the endless belts 44.

The machine is then manually moved on the rails 6 and 7 until said grinding wheel 38 is adjacent the desired grinding zone as, for example, at a welded rail joint. Thereafter, by the simple expedient of coordinated rotation in selective directions of the hand wheel 19 and hand crank 42, the grinding wheel is caused to lower into rail engagement and to shift transversely of the rail 6, respectively. In this fashion, the crown of the rail 6 can be readily and effectively ground to the desired contour. Also, by similar coordinated rotation of the hand wheel 19 and handcrank wheel 38 can be disposed to grind either side of the rail With respect to the foregoing, it will be-understood that with operation of the hand wheel 19, there results, vertical adjustment-by the screw 18of the su'spen-. sion yoke 17, the mounting rods 12, the. tubes 13, and

the tube-supported.engine-driven rail grinding mecha-. nism including the grinding wheel 38.

It will be further understood that upon rotation of the r I hand crank 42, and corresponding rotation of screw 41,

the tubes .13 are adjusted either outwardly or inwardly with the associated instrumentalities which permit of ready and convenient vertical as well as transverse adjustment of said grinding wheel),contribute to theeffectiveness and practicality of said machine.

In certain instances it is desired to use a hand-held. grinding wheel unit carried on the outer end ofa rela- V tively long, sheathed, flexible shaft. In such event, the

cap 47 is removed, and thesheathed, flexible shaftafter being passed through the ring 11 as, a guard,is connected to the power take-off 46 of shaft32.

From'the foregoing description, it will be readily. seen I that there has been produced such a railroad rail grind 5 ing machine as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the railroad rail: grindingmachine, still in practice such deviations from i such detail may be resorted to as do not form a depar-- ture from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A railroad rail grinding. machine comprising a 1 frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disa posed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels en gage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and indepen dently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding n wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means in-. cluding a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled .on the. frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, means between the frame and mount: ing rods operative to adjust the latter vertically and I about the rock-shaft as an axis, and other means, be-

tween the mounting rods and said sliding structure to,

adjust the latter along said rods, whereby to effect said vertical and axial adjustments, respectively,of the.

shaft. 7

"42, the grinding 2. A rail grinding machine, as in claim 1, in which said other means is included in part in the first-named means.

3. A rail-grinding machine, as in claim 1, in which said sliding structure includes tubes slidable on the mounting rods, cross members spanning between and connecting the tubes, one cross member providing the support for the engine, bearings on the cross members, the shaft being journaled in said bearings, and a drive unit between the engine and shaft.

4. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, the frame having a fixed longitudinal arch spanning over the mounting rods adjacent said one rail, a yoke vertically adjustably suspended within the arch, the yoke having depending legs corresponding and secured to the mounting rods, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, and means between the mounting rods and the sliding structure to adjust the latter along said rods.

5. A rail grinding machine, as in claim 4, in which the sliding structure includes tubes slidable on the mounting rod, the tubes having longitudinal slots therein, and ears fixed on the mounting rods and projecting through the slots, the legs of the yoke being attached to said ears.

6. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, the frame having a fixed longitudinal arch spanning over the mounting rods adjacent said one rail, a yoke within the arch, the yoke having depending legs corresponding and secured to the mounting rods, a hand-actuated screw extending between the top of the arch and said yoke to raise or lower the same to vertically adjust the shaft, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, the sliding structure including tubes slidable on the mounting rods, a member connecting the tubes, another hand-actuated screw extending between said member and the yoke to slide the tubes along the mounting rods to axially adjust the shaft.

7. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; the shaft, at the end opposite the grinding wheel, being formed as an accessible power take-off, and said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, the rock-shaft having a laterally opening guard ring formed therein intermediate its ends, and said ring being in adjacent, substantially alined relation to said power take-off whereby a flexible shaft attached to said power take-off can pass in guarded relation through the ring. 

1. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, means between the frame and mounting rods operative to adjust the latter vertically and about the rock-shaft as an axis, and other means between the mounting rods and said sliding structure to adjust the latter along said rods, whereby to effect said vertical and axial adjustments, respectively, of the shaft.
 2. A rail grinding machine, as in claim 1, in which said other means is included in part in the first-named means.
 3. A rail-grinding machine, as in claim 1, in which said sliding structure includes tubes slidable on the mounting rods, cross members spanning between and connecting the tubes, one cross member providing the support for the engine, bearings on the cross members, the shaft being journaled in said bearings, and a drive unit between the engine and shaft.
 4. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, the frame having a fixed longitudinal arch spanning over the mounting rods adjacent said one rail, a yoke vertically adjustably suspended within the arch, the yoke having depending legs corresponding and secured to the mounting rods, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, and means between the mounting rods and the sliding structure to adjust the latter along said rods.
 5. A rail grinding machine, as in claim 4, in which the sliding structure includes tubes slidable on the mounting rod, the tubes having longitudinal slots therein, and ears fixed on the mounting rods and projecting through the slots, the legs of the yoke being attached to said ears.
 6. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, spaced mounting rods fixed on the rock-shaft and projecting toward said one rail, the frame having a fixed longitudinal arch spanning over the mounting rods adjacent said one rail, a yoke within the arch, the yoke having depending legs corresponding and secured to the mounting rods, a hand-actuated screw extending between the top of the arch and said yoke to raise or lower the same to vertically adjust the shaft, a sliding structure on the mounting rods, the shaft being journaled on and the engine supported by such sliding structure, the sliding structure including tubes slidable on the mounting rods, a member connecting the tubes, another hand-actuated screw extending between said member and the yoke to slide the tubes along the mounting rods to axially adjust the shaft.
 7. A railroad rail grinding machine comprising a frame having transversely spaced, rail engageable wheels adjacent the ends thereof, a transverse shaft disposed intermediate the frame ends, a grinding wheel on the shaft adjacent one of the rails which the wheels engage, an engine connected in driving relation to the shaft, and means mounting the shaft and engine in supported connection with the frame and for vertical and axial adjustment of the shaft, selectively and independently, whereby to correspondingly adjust the grinding wheel relative to said one rail; the shaft, at the end opposite the grinding wheel, being formed as an accessible power take-off, and said mounting means including a longitudinal rock-shaft journaled on the frame laterally of said one rail, the rock-shaft having a laterally opening guard ring formed therein intermediate its ends, and said ring being in adjacent, substantially alined relation to said power take-off whereby a flexible shaft attached to said power take-off can pass in guarded relation through the ring. 